Reflections of ‘The People’s Marathon’

Photo By Brian Parker | Image courtesy of the Marine Corps Marathon.  

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, UNITED STATES

10.27.2013

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

By Rhonda Apple
Pentagram Staff Writer

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - Near the base of the Marine Corps War Memorial, Stephanie Reyna of Bedminster, N.J., rested with her sister, Tracey Reyna of Alexandria, Va., after they completed the Marine Corps Marathon 10K. “We’re running in honor of our dad, Lawrence Reyna. He served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam,” said Tracey. “He ran with us here the first year they did a 10K at the MCM, but couldn’t be here today,” added Stephanie. “I’ve run a couple of marathons before, but never the MCM,” said Tracey. “Today was a personal challenge for me because I literally couldn’t walk two years ago due to disk issues in my back,” said Stephanie. The sisters said although they’ve run the MCM10K numerous times and enjoy each year they participate.

“Being here is not competitive – it’s ‘The People’s Marathon,’ and other racers are cheering one another on. The atmosphere here is great,” said Tracey. “It’s very inspirational,” added Stephanie.

Hand-cyclist Joe Lopez relaxed after completing his seventh consecutive Marine Corps Marathon. “I think I made good time – I always try to finish under 2:30:00,” said the Marine veteran. Lopez said he was stationed with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and was deployed to Iraq when he got sick in 2006.

“I got a small pox vaccination before deployment, and it gave me an autoimmune disease, which attacked my brain and my spinal cord [after I was in Iraq]. They flew my mom to the hospital in Germany because they didn’t think I was going to live. While I was in the hospital, I saw the Marine Corps Marathon on television and I said ‘I want to do that next year,’” he said.

Lopez completed his seventh MCM Oct. 27 and plans to continue competing each year. As determined as he was to heal from his spinal injury and learn to walk again, Lopez shared equal determination about continuing to hand-cycle in future MCMs. “I want to train even harder next year and improve my time.”

Heather Schultz of Orlando, Fla., was the 15th female to cross the finish line. “It’s my first Marine Corps Marathon of 20 marathons I’ve run,” she said. “I thought about my ‘dad’ the entire race. I was raised by my grandfather, Edwin Jones. He was a disabled vet who served in the Air Force and suffered from conditions as a result of Agent Orange,” she said as she fanned away tears in her eyes. “I’ve always wanted to run the MCM. It was very inspirational running here. I tried to pay attention to the historical sites. Also to see all the Marines along the race course encouraging the runners was great.”

Aaron Mendelsohn, a native Washingtonian now residing in New York City, finished his third MCM this year. “I loved running down Rock Creek Park near where I grew up. I saw my parents and my little four-year-old daughter on the race course,” he said.

Aaron said he was proud he completed the “People’s Marathon,” and each year he runs it, he improves his time. However, this year, another marathon weighed heavily on his mind.

Aaron ran the Boston Marathon April 15 with his brother, retired Army 2nd Lt. Bruce Mendelsohn. “He met me at the finish line, and we went to a party at Boylston Street, which was directly above the first explosion. I was about five feet inside and Bruce was right by the window when we heard this great ‘boom’ [sound],” Aaron recalled. “I looked over and saw smoke coming in the window and Bruce on the ground. He jumped up and told me to get everyone to the back of the building, there could be a secondary explosion and ten seconds later there was. Bruce ran outside and put a tourniquet on a girl’s leg and helped save her life. It was very heroic.”

Like so many who run in honor of a fallen loved one, a fellow battle buddy, or even a charitable organization which helps those in need, Aaron said he ran the MCM for Boston. “I ran in honor of the people in [the] Boston [Marathon] who didn’t finish, for those who were injured and also for my brother.”

He said running marathons means a lot to so many people. “It’s a triumph of human spirit and physicality. For those kids to attack the finish line of a marathon is devastating. That’s why anytime someone finishes a marathon [now] they can symbolically think ‘I defeated that.’”

• Date Taken: 10.27.2013
• Date Posted: 11.01.2013 11:57
• Story ID: 116142
• Location: JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US
• Hometown: BEDMINSTER, NJ, US
• Hometown: ORLANDO, FL, US